Position Statement:
The use of signs in the sale of real estate has proven over many years to be an effective way to inform the public that a property is available for purchase. Signs include both "For Sale" signs located on the property and open house signs and arrows off-site directing potential buyers to the property.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®1, 17 percent of the home buyers surveyed located the house they purchased because they saw a sign.
Sellers of property rely greatly on real estate professionals to effectively market their homes to potential buyers. For sale signs and open house signs and arrows directing people to the property are a significant part of the marketing effort. This is especially true in areas where properties are difficult to locate.
While it has been shown that using signs helps to market real estate, there is growing concern that the use of signs, especially off-site open house signs and arrows, will be further restricted by a growing number of municipalities. This concern will become reality unless members of the real estate industry, brokers and salespeople, begin to voluntarily police themselves by using good judgment in how they use and where they place signs. The ability to use signs in connection with the marketing of real estate is a privilege that must be carefully used and not thought of as an indiscriminate right that allows sign placement at will.
Voluntary compliance by members is essential because the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS® cannot and does not have a sign policy which restricts members from using signs as long as member practices do not violate any law or regulation.
The overuse and misuse of for sale and off-site open house signs and arrows is what usually brings about complaints from police departments, municipal officials, the public, and a growing number of concerned REALTORS®.
The placement of off-site signs and arrows is regulated in most municipalities in the metropolitan area. The association has compiled these sign ordinances. Copies of individual municipal ordinances are available from the association on request.
No open house sign or arrow may be placed on public property such as a boulevard or corner intersection in most municipalities or on private property without the consent of the owner. Some municipalities do not permit the use of these signs on private property even with the consent of the owner.
No open house signs or arrows can ever be placed on state or county right of ways. Any sign found on these right of ways can and will confiscated and destroyed by the governing authority without notice to the brokerage.
In addition to these general requirements, several municipalities have other restrictions on the use of signs such as maximum size, instructions concerning sign placement on the property, and requirements for sign removal within a certain number of days after the sale.
Members are responsible for knowing about and complying with municipal sign ordinances. Thoughtless actions such as placing open house signs or arrows on public boulevards near intersections are not only against the law in most cases but they show the public a form of sight pollution that has a negative effect on many people. Instead of being a good marketing tool, the misuse of signs and arrows gives the public the image of a negative, non-caring attitude that reflects on the industry and the firm, the opposite of what is intended.
Members must realize that only a small percentage of properties are offered for sale at any time, and that even though the use of signs is vital for sellers, they constitute only a small percentage of citizens at any given time. When the non-selling citizens complain about unsightly signs, municipal officials will listen and take action.
While it is bad enough to have open house signs and arrows off-site during the day an open house is held, some members are not satisfied with that and leave the signs and arrows in place for months anywhere they think the signs can get attention. Also, it has been noted that two, three or more real estate firms will place their open house signs and arrows on the same intersection at the same time.
This is clearly a matter requiring management and salespeople to work together collectively to solve the problem. Management must inform salespeople that sign ordinances prohibit the use of open house signs and arrows on public property even during the time of the open house. Salespeople must obey sign ordinances and place signs judiciously and only with the consent of the property owner (unless this is prohibited by local ordinance).
Know and obey municipal sign ordnances. Management and salespeople must work together to comply with existing sign ordinances. The association will provide needed information about specific sign ordinances. Using a spirit of voluntary compliance and cooperation, members will preserve and protect the right of citizens to market their property through the judicious use of real estate signs.
1. The Home Buying and Selling Process: 1989, National Association of REALTORS®
– Revised statement adopted by the Board of Directors on April 22, 1992.
For more information, contact Bill Gerst at 952.988.3141 or billg@mplsrealtor.com.
|
